Apparatus for mechanically operating musical instruments.



H. G. GOLDMAN & 0. P. WEBB.

APPARATUS FOR MEGHANICALLY OPERATING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLIOATIONI'ILED NOV. 23, 1912.

- Inventor's Ji 6. Calamww 6. i wabb f1 G7 a Attorneys 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Patented Oct. 7, 1913.

NOGRAPH COuWASHINGTbN. n. c.

1-1. 0. GOLDMAN & 0'. P, WEBB;

APPARATUS FOR MEGHANIGALLY OPERATING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 23, 1912.

1,075,01 3, Patented Oct. 7, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2. a v ,2 T

' 1, i M M i? 11 6 15% I Q Ww 02 E I E /f E II 1. a? fl Inventors if. 61 vldman/ e) Attorneys coLuMnlA PLANOOIIAPH Cu..WASHINUTUN.-U c.

H. G. OOLDMAN & C. F. WEBB. V APPARATUS FOR MEGHANIGALLY OPERATING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 23, 1912.

1,075,01 3. Patented 0011.7, 1913.

3 SHEETSSEEBT 3.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co..-WA5H|NcTON. D. q.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY CHAR-LESS COLDMAN, 0F LEWISHAM, AND CHRISTOPHER FREDERICK WEBB, OF LEE, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR MECHANICALLY OPERATING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 7 1913.

Application filed November 23, 1912. Serial No. 733,085.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, HENRY CHARLES Conmmn and CHRISTOPHER FREDERICK TEBB, both subjects of the King of Great Britain, residing, respectively, at 15 Albacore Crescent, Lewisham, and 25 Lenham.

road, Lee, both in the county of Kent, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in or Relating to Apparatus for: Mechanically Operating Musical Instruments,of which the following is a specitained; the object being to secure the desired results with greater variation, precision and nicety than by the means heretofore adopted.

According to this invention, the accentuation or expression is obtained by means of a series of reducing valves adapted for being controlled or regulated in such a mannor that a graduating influence in the working of the striking pneumatics between certain extreme limits may be obtained, the said valves being arranged between the main supply for the operative tension and the device which enables the said tension to actuate the sounding mechanism. The method of operation is such that a variation maybe obtained graduating in force. The expression effect may extend through the whole compass of the instrument or be limited to selected or special portions of the said compass and be either uniform in degree or graduated in an ascending or a descending manner so as to reproduce crescendo, diminuendo and similar effects.

The device is applicable for employment with any construction of player mechanism for a piano or similar musical instrument ordinarily provided with keys for playing the same and in connection with pneumatic operating or playing devices of the bellows, cylinder and piston or other type, such for instance as shown in our prior Patents 1,035,533 and 1,035,534 dated Aug. 13, 1912, whether the same be adapted for operation by pressure of air or by suction or vacuum.

The reducing valves are adapted for operation by a device arranged in suitable relationship to the valves so as to effect their operation as and when required. The said device may assume the shape of a bar which is capable of operating in such a manner as to render the whole of the notes subject to the expression device, or by suitably hinging or jointing portions of the said bar, sections thereof may be rendered capable of separate operation so as to enable corresponding sections of the notes in the instrument to be emphasized or subjected to the eflect of the expression or accentuation. The said bar or bar sections is or are fitted with springs or yielding members adapted to act upon the reducing valves so that as the bar or bar sections is or are deflected the spring or yielding members operate the valves so as to increase the tension of the medium flowing through the same with the effect that the striking force of the pneumatics is increased. The said bar or bar sections is or are operated by suitably hinged levers arranged parallel thereto. These levers may each affect a section of the said bar and thereby a section or series of the notes of the instrument. There may be one, two, three or more levers, but three are preferred, the same working respectively the treble, middle and bass parts of the compass. Means are provided for operating these levers and preferably they should be operated manually by finger buttons, stops or the like which are adapted to actuate the respective levers by means of rods or other suitable connections so as to move the said levers and lower the bar. The lever may be operatively connected with the bar by a bell crank lever. The operation of the reducing valves for obtaining graduated 'accentuation or expression during the playing may be effected pneumatically instead of mechanically and, to this end, a second series of similar reducing valves equal in number to the first series are employed. The second series of reducing valves are connected by tubes to the first series of reducing valves and are adapted to be operated by a bar or bars of the character referred to above. This arrangement enables the dimensions of the controlling bar or bars and also the second series of reducing valves to be considerably reduced and instead of extending the whole length of the instrument may be confined to small compass conveniently mounted in an accessible position preferably outside the piano. It also allows of the construction of the controlling bars to be considerably simplified and the operating means conveniently attached thereto.

In order that the said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect we will proceed to describe. the same with reference to the accompanying crawings, in which- Figure l is a face view illustrating cylinder and piston pneumatics by way of example having the improved expression device applied thereto. F 2 and 3 are diagrammatic views showing the effect of the operating bars in regard to the reducing valves pertaining to sections thereof. F 4 is a view on an enlarged scale of a reducing valve adapted for use with the improved method of working. Fig. 5 is an elevation in part section of the primary reduc ing valves, and controlling bars for the pneumatic method of control. Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a secondary reducing valve and the corresponding primary reducing valve hereinafter described and the connections and operating mechanism therefor. Fig. 7 shows the general arrangement of the apparatus. Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic section showing the expression mechanism of the present application associated with a piston and cylinder pneumatic.

The reducing valve indicated at a in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and in detail in Fig. t, comprises a bi-part casing a a Into the casino; (4 the branch supply pipe a for the operating medium is led from the main supplysuction or pressureZJ, Fig. 1. In the present instance it is assumed that suction or vacuum is being employed; therefore the pipe 5 is the main suction pipe and is common to all the reducing valves a and also to the pneumatics c. The upper casing a is in communication with the pneumatics .0 by way of the pipe a which leads to the valve device 0 pertaining to the said pneumatics. There may be a valve a to each pneumatic or to groups of pneumatics. It is found convenient to divide the compass of the piano into eight or ten. In such case there would be eight or ten of such valves each being adapted to control its respective group or groups of pneumatics and notes. The said valves (4 may however be. arranged in any manner convenient for securing the desired or efficient operation of the apparatus. The valve chamber a is formed with a seating a for a ball or other valve (t the latter being adapted for movement by the tension or suction effect which is in communication with the chamber a by way of the. pipe 4?. The diaphragm a is moved by the tension or medium which gains access to the surface of the diaphragm by way of the passage a which is in open communication with the pipe 0, whereby the pneumatics are supplied. The valve is set by means of the spring member a or an equivalent contrivance. The said member a may be adjusted by a screw 0: and operates upon the spindle a of the valve T us a convenient means of setting the valve is secured'whereby the minimum tension may be supplied. it is preferably arranged so that the reducing valves normally supply the minimum tension and the playing consequently is normally soft. The valves are actuated during the operation of the instrument according to one method by means of the bars (Z cl, Figs. 1, 2 and 3. These bars are in turn actuated by means of the links 6, f, g the link a afiecting the bass notes from the lowermost, upward. the link 7 the notes from about the middle of the compass of the instrument graduating toward the upper and lower ends thereof, and the link (7 the notes pertaining to the uppermost treble part of the said compass. The link 6 is connected at one end to a bell crank lever e which has an operative connection with the operating button, lever or other device such as the manual lever n 6 provided on the front of the instrument. This operative connection is shown as being effected by means of the cord or flexible connections r. At the other end the said arm 6 is connected with a bell crank lever c which is connected with the link (Z by means ofthe link 6 The link f is similarly connected with the operating lever and the bars d d by means of the bell crank levers 7 f and link f the link being connected with the operating lever by the bell crank o and with the arm (Z by means of the bell crank lever 7 and link The respective operating levers are preferably controlled manually by means of the button or other device hereinbefore referred to. By effecting the depression of one of the lovers to its full extent the maximum accentuating effect is obtained at that particular point. By depressing it to a less extent, a proportionately less accentuating effect is produced. On the bars (Z, (Z' spring members (Z are provided which upon the depression of the said link are adapted to operate the valve stems or spindles a Fig. l) so as to apply added pressure on the valves it being understood that the spring members a. normally exert pressure on the said spindles. Thus the tension of air passing through the valve chamber is controlled. The bar sections (Z (Z are supported yieldingly at each end by th spr ng supp ts d d On reference to Figs. 2 and 3 the operation of the bars at d will be rendered clear. In Fig. 2 the said bar is shown as having been operated by the-link f whereby the valves a are operated in a graduated manner from the said point outwardly in each direction left and right, the maximum pressure being applied to the said point and a diminishing pressure on each successive spring, till the minimum is reached at each end. A series of steps or gradations is thus effected according to the number of valves and springs employed, the result. being a gradual decrease in the air tension toward a the ends, and consequently a gradual variation in the strength of the notes from loud in the center to soft at the ends. In Fig. 3 the said bars cl cl are shown as having been operated by the links e and 9 so that a graduated depression of the valves is obtained inward. from the extremities. It will thus be observed that the range of expression.can be varied gradually or instantly and controlled at will according as the operating devices are actuated and any combination of expression eifects can be secured between the limits of extreme soft and extreme loud extending over diiferent sections of the compass of the instrument.

Referring to the arrangement illustrated in Figs. 5 to 7, h are a second series of similar reducing valves formed integrally in the bar 72 or formed separately as may be desired. This second and smaller series of reducing valves will for purposes of distinction, be termed the primary reducing valves and the other reducing valves already described will be termed the secondary reducing valves, the term referring to the order of operation. Each primary valve comprises a chamber 7& and a chamber [b the former of which is connected by a branch supply pipe h with the main supply 71, Fig. 7. As shown, one pipe h is adapted to connect the whole of the primary valves with the main supply h but separate pipes could be provided if desired. The supply pipe k is the main suction pipe and is common to the chambers/2. in the primary reducing valves and chambers 8" in the secondary reducing valves- The chamber 72. of each primary reducing valve is connected by a pipe 72. with the corresponding secondary reducing valve m. A ball or other valve 70 is arranged in the chamber if. The stem 76 of the valve 70 is connected at one end to a diaphragm 70 which serves to control said valve on its seating k The other end of the stem is provided with an enlarged portion or head 70 which is adapted to be acted upon by the controlling bar n. This bar a is made in sections as shown in Fig. 5 and is provided on its under side with springs n or other elastic pressure transmitting means. These springs engage with the heads 70 of the stems of the reducing valves and when the bar or a section of the bar at is depressed they serve to impart movement to the ball or other valve 70. Each section of the bar n is provided. with a protuberance 71. as shown in Fig. 5, which are adapted to engage with corresponding keys a Fig. 6, pivotally mounted above the bar, when the same are depressed. By effecting the depression of one of the keys n to its full extent the maximum accentuating effect is obtained, at that particular point. By depressing it to a less extent, a proportionately less accentuating effect is produced. WVhen the levers are not depressed the springs of the primary reducing valves do not exert pressure, so that little or no tension is obtained in the chamber 723'. A spring 6 acting on the secondary valve may still be used and is adjusted so that the minimum tension for soft playingis supplied to the corresponding pneumatic or pneumatics when the spring of the primary reducing valve is inactive. When the controlling bar 12 is de pressed at any point the primary reducing valves h are operated in a graduated manner from the said point as shown.

The secondary reducing valves m are similar in construction to the primary reducing valves 72, and each comprises two chambers s, 8 the former of which is connected with the main supply h, Fig. 7. A'ball or other valve .9 is arranged in the chamber .3, and the stem s of said valve is connected at one end to a diaphragm s which serves to control said valve on its seating 8 They differ from the primary reducing valves however by the fact that their 'diaphragms 8 instead of being open to the atmosphere are placed in communication with the chambers 7&3 of the primary reducing valves. The chambers above the diaphragm s are in communication with the chambers s as previously described by means of the passages 8 When pressure is applied to the primary reducing valve by the bar and spring the effectis to exhaust air from beneath the secondary diaphragm s by means of the pipe h. This partly or completely balances the tension on either side of said diaphragm according to the amount of pressure exerted by the spring n of the primary reducing valve. Therefore, the extent of opening movement of a given secondary reducing valve 8 or of several such valves, and the tension of air passing therethrough to the striking pneumatic or pneumatics, is dependent upon and controlled by the extent of opening movement of a corresponding valve or valves k of the primary reducing valve devices. The reducing valves m may thus be considered to act as relays and the ultimate effect on the striking pneumatics s is the same as that obtained by the direct method of operation hereinbefore described. A small vent or bleed hole m may be provided below the diaphragm 71: of each of the secondary valves at so as to decrease the tension or pressure when the controlling bar a pertaining to the primary valves is released after being depressed. The chambers 71. of the valves m are connected to the main supply it by the pipes m and the chambers if thereof to the valves of the striking pneumatics s by the pipes m he striking pneumatics of the device are preferably of the piston and cylinder type and may be associated with double tension valves of the character described in the specification of Letters Patent Nos. 1,085,533 and 1,035,534, dated Aug. 13, 1912, whereby high and low tensions are used simultaneously; the low tension operating from the tracker bar and the high tension acting upon the striking pneumatics.

The improved apparatus may be adapt-ed to bellows or other types of striking pneumatics. Such an arrangement is shown in Fig. 8 and the pneumatic action 6 comprises two chambers 3 t conveniently arranged the one above the other, the upper or high tension chamber containing a valve in the.

form of a ball t which operates between two seatings i 23 and the lower or low tension chamber containing a valve actuator which in the instance shown is in the form of a plunger t which is freely and bodily movable in the chamber 2?. The valve 25 and plunger i are in operative connection by means of a loose wire or similar device t which is adapted to present a long or comparatively long distance of separation between the valve and its actuator, and, owing to its small cross sectional area and the consequent small diameter of the passage in which the said connection works, at the same time insures the air tight working thereof. The wire or other connection 16 is free to move without aflording any leakage of air between the chambers t t or from one chamber to the other. A lateral passage t leads from the chamber t to the passage 6 as shown in dotted lines, the said passage 27" leading to the cylinder t wherein works the piston said cylinder and piston constituting the power pneumatic. The piston t is connected with the piano action by means of the wire or flexible connection If. The upper part of the chamber t is formed with an aperture '0 whereby the chamber is placed in communication with the atmosphere the valve at times sealing this aperture against the ingress of air. The ball or valve 23 is also adapted to seal a passage 1) having a lateral portion which leads into a chamber 41 The chamber 0 is in communication by a pipe or tube o with the secondary reducing valve m and the main supply /L The lower pressure chamber t communicates with the suction chamber 12 by way of a passage a The chamber '0 is in communication with the lower pressure or weaker exhaust by way of a pipe or tube '1). An aperture o is arranged beneath the plunger 25 and is extended laterally so as to communicate with a pipe a or other suit able connection with the tracker bar or board a. Assuming the apparatus to be working under vacuum or exhaust, the chambers 11 o are partially exhausted by air by the pumps or other vacuum creating apparatus connected with the pipe 7L The degree of vacuum in the one chamber is however ordinarily below that in the other chamber, obtained by the use of a suitable pneumatic governor or other means 41 The high pressure air in the chamber 11 is communicated to the ball or valve chamber 5' and when the valve is in position to close the atmospheric air admission aperture 4) the air is exhausted from the power pneumatic by way of the aforesaid passage (i and connecting passage t Upon the music sheet opening the aperture in the tracker board. atmospheric pressure passes to the chamber t and effects the lifting of the valve actuator or plunger t. When the said plunger is lifted it in turn by means of the wire t lifts the ball 6 in the valve chamber 6 and thereby closes the air admission aperture 0. Thus the upper or high vacuum chamber is placed in communication with the power pneumatics and a note is sounded. Upon the music sheet closing the aperture in the tracker board, the air which is imprisoned in the tube a and passage 02 which leads to the chamber t leaks past the plunger t which is arranged to work therein with a suitable clearance; thus the pressure upon either side of the valve actuator or plunger i is equalized and the atmospheric pressure on the ball t in the chamber t asserts itself, with the result that the ball opens the air admission aperture 4) and admits atmospheric air to the passages 25 t leading to the power pneumatic.

Although only one form of valve suitable for the purpose of the present invention, has been described and illustrated, it will be readily perceived by persons acquainted with the art to which the invention relates that section of said series of pneumatics, and means common to more than one of said valves for moving the latter to different extents to cause successive pneumatics of the series to act with progressively varying force from one end of the series toward the other.

2. In expression mechanism for mechanically operating musical instruments, the combination with a series ofstriking pneumatics, of a plurality of reducing valves for variably controlling said pneumatics each valve controlling differentpneumatics ofthe series, and means common to more than one of said reducing valves for effecting a graduated controlthereof to cause the striking pneumatics of the series to act with progressively increasing or decreasing force from one end of the series toward the other.

3. In apparatus for mechanically operating musical instruments, the combination with a series of striking pneumatics, of a plurality of reducing valves for variably controlling the operation of said pneumatics, each valve being associated with a different section of the said series, and a displaceable bar common to more than one of said valves for moving the latter to different extents to cause successive pneumatics of the series to act with progressively varying force from one end of the series toward the other.

4. In apparatus for mechanically operating musical instruments, the combination with a series of striking pneumatics, of a plurality of reducing valves for variably controlling the operation of said pneumatics, each valve controlling different pneumatics of the series, and an angularly displaceable bar common to more than one of said valves for moving the latter to different extents to cause the series of pneumatics controlled thereby to act with different degrees of force from one of said series toward the other.

5. In expression mechanism for mechanically operating musical instruments, the combination with a series of striking pneumatics, of a plurality of reducing valves for variably controlling said pneumatics, each valve controlling different pneumatics of the series, and pneumatic means common to more than one of said reducingvalves for moving the latter to different extents, to cause successive pneumatics of the series to act with progressively varying force from one end of the series toward the other.

, 6. In expression mechanism for mechanically operating musical instruments, the c0mbination with a series of striking pneumatics, of a plurality of reducing valves for variably controlling said pneumatics, each valve controlling difierent pneumatics of the series, and manually controlled pneumatic means common to more than one said reducing valves for moving the latter to different exo tents, to cause successive pneumatics of the series to act with progressively varying force from one end of the series toward the other.

7 In apparatus for mechanically operating musical instruments, the combination with a series of striking pneumatics, of a series of primary reducing valves, spindles for operating said valves, a displaceable bar, springs carried by said bar, means for displacing said bar so that the springs thereon may act-to different extents on the different spindles of the primary reducing valves to effect a graduated control thereof and a series of secondary, reducing valves, each having communication with a different section of the series of striking pneumatics, for transmitting the graduated control of the primary reducing valves to the said striking pneumatics.

8. In apparatus for mechanically operating musical instruments, the combination with the striking pneumatics, of a series of reducing valves connected therewith, a plurality of jointed bars, yielding members carried' by said bars and means for displacing said bars so that the springs thereon will act on ,the spindles of the reducing valves and effect the graduated control thereof.

9. apparatus for mechanically operating musical instruments, the combination with the striking pneumatics, of a series of primary reducing valves, spindles for operating said valves, a plurality of jointed bars, yielding members carried by said bars, means for displacing said bars so that the yielding members thereon may act to diflen ent extents on the different spindles of the primary reducing valves to effect a graduated control thereof, and a series of secondary reducing valves, each valve communicating with a different section of the series of striking pneumatics, for transmitting the graduated control of the primary reducing valves to the striking pneumatics.

10. In apparatus for mechanically operating musical instruments, the combination with a series of striking pneumatics, of a plurality of reducing valves connected therewith for, controlling the operation of the pneumatics, saidvalves controlling a different section of the series of pneumatics, and an angularly displaceable bar for effecting the graduated control of adjacent reducing valves to cause the striking pneumatics to act with progressively varying force from one end of the'series toward the other.

11. In apparatus for mechanically operating musical instruments, the combination wit-h a series of striking pneumatics, of a plurality of reducing valves connected therewith, each valve associated with a different section of said series of pneumatics, a dissaid valves, springs carried by said bar, and

manually operable meansfor displacing said bar angularly relative to the valves to "cause the springs to act on the spindles of the valves to adjust the valves to different extents and thus cause the series of striking pneumatics to act with varying force from one end of the series toward the other.

12. In an apparatus form-echanicall-y operating musical instruments, the combination with a series of striking pneumatics, of

a plurality of secondary reducing valves tor controlling the operation of said pneumatics, each valve controlling a diiferent section of'the said series, a series of primary reducing valves each havingoperative communication with one of said secondary reducing valves, and means common to more than one of said primary reducing valves for moving the latter to different extents/to cause the different sections of the series of pneumatics to act with progressively varying force from one end of the series toward' the other.

13. In apparatus tor'mechanically operating musical instruments, the combination with a series of striking pneumatics, of a series of reducing valves, each valve controlling a diflerent section of the series ofpneumatics, spindles on said valves, means for effecting a yielding control of said spindles,

and a'displaceable bar common to a number of said Spindles for eil'ecting a furtherand graduated control of said valves to cause successive pneumatics of the series to act with progressively varying force from one end of the series toward the other.

means common to more than one of said' reducing valves for moving the latterto dif- 'ferent extents to-cause different pneumatics of the series to act with progressively vary- I ing force from one end of the series toward,

the other. 7

15. In apparatus for mechanically operating musical instruments, the combination of a tracker bar, a series of striking pneumatics, a series of double tension valves, low tension chambers in-said valves connected to the tracker bar, high tension chambers in said valves connected to the striking pneumatics, a series of primary reducing valves, means for effecting the graduated control of said primary reducing valves and a series of secondary reducing valves in communication 7 with the high tension chambers for transmitting thegraduated control of the primary reducing valves to the striking pneumatics through the double tension valves.

16. In apparatus tor mechanically operating musical instruments, the combination of a series of cylinder and piston striking pneumatics, aseries of reducing valves, each valve having controlling communication with different pneumatics of the series, spindles on said valves, means for efi'ecting a yielding control of said spindles, a plurality of jointed bars and means for displacing said bars so that they may act on the splndleso'f the'reducing valves and effect a further and graduated control of said spindles.

'17. Inapparatus 'tor'mechanically operating musical instruments, the combination of cylinder and piston striking pneumatics, a series of primary reducing valves, a plurality of jointed bars, means for displacing said bars so that they may act on the spinlles of the primary reducing valves and effect a graduated control of said spindles, a series of secondary reducing valves for transmitting the graduated control of the primary reducing valves to the striking pneumatics, spindles on said secondary reducing valves and means for effecting a yielding control of said spindles.

'18. In apparatus for mechanically operating musical instruments, the combination of a series of cylinder and piston striking pneumatics, a series of reducing valves for 1 variably controlling the operation of said pneumatics, each valve controlling a different section of the series of pneumatics, and an angularly displaceable bar common to more than one of said valves for moving the latter todifierent extents, to cause different striking pneumatics of the series to act with progressively varying force from one end of the series toward the other.

19. In apparatusfor mechanically operating musical instruments, the combination of a series of cylinder and piston striking pneumatics, aseries of primary reducing valves for variably controlling the operation of said pneumatics, an angularly displaceable bar for effecting the graduated control of said primary reducing valves and a series of secondary reducing valves with each of which one of said primary valves cooperates for transmitting the graduated control of the primary reducing valves to the said secondary valves and through the latter to 'thestriking pneumatics to cause different pneumatics of the series to act with different force.

20. In apparatus for mechanically operating musical instruments, the combination with a series of striking pneumatics, of a plurality of reducing valves for variably controlling the operation of said pneumatforce from one end of the series toward the ics, each valve controlling difierent pneuother.

matics of the series, a plurality of angularly In testimony whereof we aflix our signaclisplaceable bar sections, each section being tures in presence of two witnesses.

5 common to more than one of said valves and separate manually operable means for HENRY CHARLES OOIDMAN' moving each bar section to cause the valves CHRISTOPHER FREDERICK WEBB associated therewith to move to diflerent eX- Vitnesses: tents whereby successive pneumatics of the T. SALBY WARDLE,

10 series will act with progressively varying WALTER J. SKERTEN.

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Washington, D. G. 

